Means for fastening covers to jars.



No; 688,733. Pziientedflec. l0, 190i.

' S. B. HUPKINS.

MEANS FOR FASTENING COVERS T0 JARS.

(Applicationfiled Apr. 19, 1901.)

(No Model.)

we NORRIS pwsns 2a., FHOTOLITHOU WASHINGTON, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIGE.

SPENCER B. HOPKINS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MEANS FOR FASTENING COVERS TO JARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,733, dated December10, 1901.

Application filed April 19, 1901. Serial No. 56,585. (No model.)

devices which while being simple in construction are efficient inoperation.

In carrying out my invention I provide a cover having a rib extendingacross its upper surface and a bail which is pivotally connected withthe jar and engages the rib. The bail is provided With means fortightening it,- so as to firmly hold the cover in place on the jar, andthe rib is so formed that different degrees of strain may be placed onthe cover when desired.

Preferably I apply my improvements to a jar which is of uniform diameterfrom top to bottom,so as to provide a receptacle which can be readilyfilled and emptied and also thoroughly cleaned, and the cover ispreferably formed with an annular recess around its edge to receive arubber gasket or packing-ring adapted to fit on the upper edge of thejar. The bail consists of a horizontal cross-piece adapted to engage therib on the cover and. two downwardly-projecting arms of difierentlengths, the longer arm being pivoted in a seat or socket or connectedto a projection formed on one side of the jar, while the shorter arm ispivotally connected with a cam-lever which has a bearing in a socket onthe opposite side of the jar. The curve of the rib on the top of thecover, with which the bail engages, is struck from a radius somewhatshorter than the radius of the arc describedby the bail when not undertension, the effect of which is to enable me to place different degreesof strain or tension on the cover when desired.

Further particulars as to the details of construction and as to the modeof operation of 4 my invention will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a jarwith my improvements applied. Fig. 2 shows a vertical central section ofthe same, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the peculiar form of the ribon the jar-cover.

The jar proper, A, may be of any suitable form; but preferably it iscircular in crosssection and is of uniform diameter from top to bottom.This form of jar is more easily filled and emptied than those having aneck or otherwise formed, and it is more easily cleaned. I

The cover B is formed with an annular recess b, in which is arranged arubber gasket or other suitable packing-ring 1), adapted to bear on theupper edge of the jar; but it is so applied to the cover as to beremovable therewith. The cover is provided on its upper surface with acurved rib O, which extends across its center from opposite sides of itsperiphery. This rib is preferably formed integrally with the cover, andit is provided with a series of notches c.

The bail D has a horizontal portion cl, adapted to engage the rib C, andtwo downwardly projecting arms 01 d of unequal lengths. The longer arm(1 is formed with a lug e, engaging a seat or socket on the side of thejar, which is preferably made somewhat thicker at this point. Theshorter arm 61 of the bail is pivotally connected with a cam-leverF,which bearsin a socket 6, formed on the side of the jar. The lever Fis preferably provided with an arm f, by means of which it may bereadily operated, and in order to lock the lever and prevent it fromspringing outwardly when tension is. applied its outer end is made toextend into a guide 6 formed on the jar below the socket c.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 that the radius of the arccorresponding with the curved surface of the rib is somewhat shorterthan the radius of the arc described by the bail when not under tension.Therefore when the bail is seated in one of the upper notches-forinstance, notch a;-a greater tension is produced on the cover than isproduced when the bail is seated in one of the notches, such as y, nearone end of the rib.

The bail is preferably made {of wire which will spring to some extent,and thus exert a pressure on the cover when the lever F is turned to theposition shown'in Fig. 1,-whether the bail be in one of the notches nearthe end of the rib or whether it be in one of the notches near thecentral portion thereof, the greater tension being applied when the bailisin one of the central notches. The obj eot of this arrangement is toenable the jar to be closed so as to cover the contents withouthermetically sealing the jar while the jar and its contents are beingboiled to expel the air, as-it is found desirable to gradually effectthe hermetical sealing of the jar, so that a better exclusion of air maybe obtained.

By my improvements the cover may be so applied and held at first that itwill stay in place, but will permit air to escape, and afterward bymoving the bail toward the center of the rib greater pressure may bebrought upon the cover, and a filial pressure may be then applied andthe cover firmly seated and secured in place.

While I prefer to employ abail having arms ofdifierent lengths and acam-lever of the kind illustrated, my invention is not necessarilylimited to the precise form of these parts which is illustrated in thedrawings. It- Will be observed that the devices which I employ forclosing the jar comprise only a few parts, and these are very simple.The jar may be readily molded in such manner as to provide sockets forthe bail and lever, and the cover may be readily molded to pro vide arecess to receive an ordinary rubber gasket, and the rib may also beformed in the process of molding. The wire bail and sheetmetal lever areof simple construction and may be made at trifling cost.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a jar having molded on oneof its sides a seat for one end of the bail, and on its opposite side asocket for a clamping-lever, a cover, a rib, on the cover having acurved notched surface, a bail having one end pivoted in the seat on oneside of the jar, and a clamping-lever pivoted to the opposite end of thebail and seated in the socket therefor on the jar.

2. The combination of a jar of uniform diameter from top to bottom, andhaving a seat on its upper edge for the cover, a cover resting 011 theupper edge of the jar, and having a rib on its upper surface providedwith a series of notches arranged in an arc across the rib, a bailpivotally connected with one side of the jar, and a clamping-leverseated in a socket on the jar, and pivotally connected with the oppositeend of the bail.

3. The combination of a jar, its cover, a curved rib on the coverprovided with a series of notches, a seat on one side of the jar for oneend of a bail, a socket formed on the op posite side of the jar which iscurved in such manner as to extend in opposite directions across thevertical central plane of the jar, a clampingleverseated in said socket,and a bail pivoted to the jar and to the lever.

t. The combination of the jar, the cover, the curved notched rib on thecover, the bail, one arm of which is pivoted to the jar, the camlever towhich the other arm of the bail is pivoted, the socket in the jar forthe camlever, and the guard on the jar for receiving the end of thelever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

SPENCER B. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. GoFF, EDWIN C. PIERCE.

